RS100, RS200, RS300, RS400, RS500, 2000, RS Feva and RS Aero Sprint Championships 25th and 26th April 2020

Organised by the RS Class Association and Club Edith Weston, Rutland, LE15 8HJ ⚫ 01780 720292 ⚫www.rutlandsailingclub.co.uk

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS 1 RULES 1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing and the rules of the competing classes. If there is a conflict between the class rules and these Sailing Instructions, these Sailing Instructions will take precedence. 1.2 Competitors shall comply with the Recreational Byelaws of Anglian Waterways and the ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ procedure described in the appendix to the Entry Form to ensure that boats and trailers brought to the regatta are free of Aquatic Invasive Species. 1.3 Competitors should note that the host sailing club implements the RYA Racing Charter and that they will be required to undertake to sail in compliance with the Charter, which can be found at the front of the RYA rule book (Racing Rules of Sailing 2017-20), or at http://www.rya.org.uk/racing/Pages/RacingCharter.aspx. 2 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS 2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located in the Wet Bar in the clubhouse. 3 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS 3.1 Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted on the official notice board at least one hour before the time stated below of the warning signal of the race or races concerned. However, any change to the schedule of races on the Sunday will be posted by 19:00 on the Saturday. 4 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE 4.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed on the masts outside the race hut situated on the club balcony. 4.2 When flag AP is displayed ashore, ‘1 minute’ is replaced with ‘not less than 30 minutes’ in the race signal AP. 5 SCHEDULE OF RACES: 5.1 Racing is scheduled as follows: 5.2 Saturday 09.00-11.00 Registration in the Wet Bar 11.30 Competitor briefing in the Wet Bar First start at 12.30 Round 1: six races Approximately 17.00 Prizegiving for RS Aeros 5.3 Sunday 08.30 -09.15 Registration for RS Fevas only 09.15 Competitor briefing for RS Fevas only First start at 10.30 Round 2: Six races Approximately 13.30 Lunch and end of regatta Approximately 15.00 Prize Giving 5.4 To alert boats that a starting sequence will begin soon, the orange starting line flag will be displayed with one sound at least one minute before a warning signal is made. 6 RACING FORMAT 6.1 A boat in a given class will only be in competition with other boats in that class; there will be winners in each class but no overall winner of the regatta. 6.2 There will be two rounds of racing, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Each round comprises a series of short sprint-style races. 6.3 RS Aeros will race on Saturday 25th April only, RS Fevas will race on Sunday 26th April only. These classes will only compete in one of the rounds of racing. (All other classes will race on both days.) 6.4 Classes will be divided into RS Fevas and Aeros, smaller fleets (where there are fewer than approximately 18 boats in a fleet) and larger fleets. 6.4.1 RS Fevas and RS Aeros 6.4.1.1 RS Fevas will sail together for the whole of the Sunday. The Feva fleet will have its own start for each race, with all Fevas starting at the same time. 6.4.1.2 RS Aeros will sail on Saturday in one or two fleets according to their rigs and depending on the prevailing wind strength. This is subject to a change in these sailing instructions at the discretion of the Race Office taking into account the number of competitors and other factors. All sailors should therefore have a ‘7’ rig and either a ‘5’ or ‘9’ rig. The larger rigs will have a separate start from the smaller rigs in each race. The rigs to be used will be indicated on the Official Notice Board before 11.30 hours and may be described at the competitor briefing.

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6.4.2 Racing format for smaller fleets 6.4.2.1 Boats in a smaller fleet will sail together throughout the regatta. Each of the smaller fleets will have its own start for each race, with all boats in that fleet starting at the same time. 6.4.2.2 For the smaller fleets, rounds 1 and 2 will have the same format. 6.4.3 Racing format for larger fleets 6.4.3.1 Boats in a larger fleet will be split into groups. There will be several starts for each race with different groups starting at different times. 6.4.3.2 Round 1 will be a qualifying round in a round-robin format. Each of the larger fleets will be divided on a random basis into four groups: Blue, Red, Yellow and Green. Every group will race with every other group in the fleet. Boats will be required to display a ribbon of the colour corresponding to their group, available at the competitor briefing, from the rear of their boom during round 1. There will be two starts in each race in this round for the larger fleets: Larger Fleets: Racing Format for Round 1 (Round Robin) Blue Red Yellow Green Races 1 and 4: Start 1: Blue and Red groups Start 2: Green and Yellow groups 1 1 2 2 Races 2 and 5: Start 1: Blue and Yellow groups Start 2: Red and Green groups 1 2 1 2 Races 3 and 6: Start 1: Blue and Green groups Start 2: Red and Yellow groups 1 2 2 1

6.4.3.3 Round 2: The larger fleets will be split into gold and silver groups for round 2. The allocations to these fleets will be based on positions in the round robin racing in round 1. The allocations to these groups will be available on the Official Notice Board by 09:00 on the Sunday morning. 7 CLASS FLAGS 7.1 There will be no class flags. A board on the committee boat will show the RS class to whom the starting signals refer. The warning flags to be used will be as follows: 7.1.1 Warning flag for smaller fleets, RS Aeros and RS Fevas: the warning flag will be flag ‘G’ for all races. 7.1.2 Warning flags for larger fleets: 7.1.2.1 Round 1 (round robin): Combinations of blue, red, yellow and green warning flags will be used corresponding to the groups to race in the next start (e.g. blue and red for start 1 of race 1). 7.1.2.2 Round 2 (Gold, Silver, etc.): The warning flags will be ‘G’ for gold, and ‘S’ for silver. This changes rule 32.2 (i.e. the ‘S’ flag does not indicate a shortened course, see SI 9.2). 8 RACING AREA 8.1 The racing area will be shown on the official notice board at least one hour before the start of racing on that day. 9 THE COURSES 9.1 The figure below shows the course and the side on which each is to be left. The course will be: Start, 1 (port), 2 (port), 3 (starboard), 4 (starboard), 5 (port), 6 (port), 7 (port), Finish

9.2 The course will not be shortened. Rule 32.2 will not apply. 10 MARKS 10.1 All odd-numbered marks will be yellow spherical buoys; all even-numbered buoys will be black spherical buoys. 10.2 The starting and finishing marks will be race committee boats at the starboard ends and dan-buoys at the port ends. 11 AREAS THAT ARE OBSTRUCTIONS 11.1 The ‘RUTLAND BELLE’ (a pleasure cruiser), the no-sailing zones at the western ends of the northern and southern arms, and moored boats in the East and West Creeks are designated as obstructions; competitors shall give reasonable clearance. 11.2 Competitors shall give a clearance of at least 40 metres to drifting fishing boats from which anglers are fishing. 12 THE START 12.1 The starting line will be between staffs displaying orange flags on the starting marks.

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12.2 The order of starting of fleets will be: , RS500s, RS300s, RS100s, RS200s, 2000s followed on Saturday by the RS Aeros (larger rigs and then smaller rigs) and on Sunday by the RS Fevas. This instruction is subject to change: (i) If some fleets are very small, their starts may be merged with other fleets, (ii) If lapping starts to occur, the order may change. 12.3 A board on the start race committee boat will display the next class to start. There will be a break of approximately 1 minute between starts of different classes during which time the board will be changed. 12.4 Races will be started using a ‘3, 2, 1, GO’ sequence; this modifies rule 26. 12.4.1 Starting sequence for smaller fleets (incl. Aeros and Fevas) the start sequence will be (for both rounds): Time (minutes) Signal Indicates Sound signal -4 approx. Board changed on committee boat RS Class - -3 “G” displayed Warning one -2 “P” displayed Prep one -1 “P” removed 1 minute long 0 “G” removed Start one

12.4.2 Starting sequence for larger fleets the start sequences for rounds 1 and 2 will be: Time Round 1 Round 2 Meaning Sound mins. -4 approx. Board changed on start boat Board changed on start boat RS Class -

st -3 Blue and Red* displayed “G” displayed Warning for 1 start One

-2 “P” displayed “P” displayed Preparatory One

st -1 “P” removed “P” removed 1 minute to 1 start Long

st Blue and Red* removed “G” removed 1 Start 0 One nd Yellow and Green * displayed “S” displayed Warning for 2 start

+1 “P” displayed “P” displayed Preparatory One

nd +2 “P” removed “P” removed 1 minute to 2 start Long

nd +3 Yellow and Green * removed “S” removed 2 Start One

* The coloured flags will change to indicate the groups to start, see SI 6.4.3.2 12.5 If he believes that all boats can hear him, the Race Officer may use a megaphone to count down the start of the race and give other help to competitors. This will not be cause for redress under RRS 41(c). 12.6 Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall keep clear of the starting area. 12.7 A boat starting later than 2 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start without a hearing. This changes RRS A4 and A5. 12.8 To signal a general recall, the race committee shall display the First Substitute flag with 2 sounds signals for up to 2 minutes. Each boat shall return round the ends of the starting line and then restart immediately. The start sequence will not stop. This change RRS 29. (The rules for individual recalls remain unchanged.) 13 CHANGE OF A LEG OF THE COURSE 13.1 To change a leg of a course, the race committee will move the original mark (or the finishing line) to a new position without signalling. Rule 33 will not apply. Moving marks during racing will not be cause for redress. 14 THE FINISH 14.1 The finishing line will be between staffs displaying blue flags on the finishing marks. 14.2 A boat that has finished shall then pass completely through the finishing line, and no part of her shall thereafter again cross the finishing line from either direction until finishing the following race. This changes RRS 28.1. A boat that infringes this Sailing Instruction will be scored DSQ in the race she has just finished; this changes RRS 63.1 & RRS A11. 15 PENALTY SYSTEM 15.1 RRS 44.1 is changed so that the Two-Turns Penalty is replaced by the One-Turn Penalty. 15.2 Touching a mark (other than a starting or finishing line mark) with any part of the boat or crew shall not constitute an infringement of the Rules. Manhandling a mark that results in an advantage is not allowed and a boat so doing shall promptly retire. If a boat touches a start or finish mark, they shall complete a one-turn penalty as described in RRS 44.2. This changes RRS 31. 16 TIME LIMITS 16.1 Boats failing to finish within 5 minutes after the first boat in their group sails the course and finishes may be scored Did Not Finish. This changes rules 35 and A4 and RSRCSI 16.1. 17 PROTEST AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS 17.1 Protest forms are available at the Club Office. Protests and requests for redress or reopening shall be delivered there within the appropriate time limit. 2020 RS Sprint Sailing Instructions, page 3

17.2 The protest time limit is 45 minutes after the last boat has completed the last race of the round. 17.3 Notices will be posted no later than 15 minutes after the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. The location of the hearings will be indicated on the notice. 17.4 A race committee boat shall have power to disqualify without hearing any boat sailing the incorrect course. This changes rule 63.1. 17.5 Breaches of Instruction 12.6 will not be grounds for a protest by a boat. This changes Rule 60.1(a). Penalties for such a breach may be less than disqualification if the protest committee so decides. 17.6 For infringements of the rules other than in Part 2 of the RRS, the protest committee may award a lesser penalty than disqualification. 18 SCORING 18.1 (a) For the RS Aero and RS Feva fleets, the total points will be the sum of points gained in all races in their round. (b) For the smaller fleets, the total points will be the sum of points gained in all races in both rounds 1 and 2. (b) For the larger fleets, the total points will be the sum of points gained in all races in Round 2 only. 18.2 RRS A2 is changed so that a boat’s score shall be the total points gained – i.e. there will be no discards. 18.3 The Low Points System of Appendix A will be used. For the purposes of RRS A4.2: a) For smaller fleets (including RS Aeros and RS Fevas), the number of boats shall be the number in that fleet of that class. b) For larger fleets, the number of boats in the series shall be taken as the number within the largest group of that class during that round of the regatta. 18.4 The winner of each class in the regatta shall be the boat with the lowest score. 19 SAFETY REGULATIONS 19.1 All competitors shall wear a personal flotation device at all times when afloat, except briefly when changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment. Wet suits and dry suits are not considered personal flotation devices. This changes rule 40.1 19.2 Wetsuits or drysuits must also be worn by all competitors. 19.3 When the race committee considers that a boat or competitor is in difficulty it may instruct the boat or competitor to accept outside help, retire or sail ashore. 19.4 In accordance with RRS 43.1 and ISAF Case 89, no clothing or equipment may be worn on the body of helm or crew to carry liquid of any description, even if for the purpose of re-hydration; this includes camelbacks, water bottles and cans of drink. 20 REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT 20.1 Only the helm or helm and crew named on the entry form will be eligible. The helm and crew may swap roles without restriction. 20.2 Crews may only be changed from the person named on the entry form with written permission in advance from the Race Committee or Class Representative. If it is known at the start of the event that there will have to be a change crew during the event, then both crews should be registered on entry form along with which day(s) they will be sailing. 21 EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CHECKS 21.1 A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules and sailing instructions, including conformance with the CHECK, CLEAN & DRY procedure in the appendix of the Notice of Race. 22 TRASH DISPOSAL 22.1 Competitors shall not drop rubbish in the park. When afloat rubbish may be placed aboard support and race committee boats. 23 RISK STATEMENT 23.1 Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone”. Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that: (a) They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event. (b) They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore. (c) They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions. (d) Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate. (e) The provision of a race management team, patrol boats and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities. (f) The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances. (g) It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue and event and to attend any safety briefing held for the event. 24 INSURANCE 24.1 Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £3,000,000 per event.

John Fothergill and David Rowlands, 2 March 2020

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